Device for keeping pets&#39; ears clean or substantially clean

ABSTRACT

An ear prop prevents a pet&#39;s ears from contacting or substantially contacting food or water in a bowl or dish. The ear prop has members for elevating, supporting or displacing the pet&#39;s ears, and the ear prop may comprise a shield. A dish for holding food or water for a pet is constructed to keep the pet&#39;s ears from contacting or substantially contacting food or water in the dish. The dish comprises a bowl section and an ear prop section. The bowl section has a floor piece with a boundary continuously connectable to a boundary of a side wherein another boundary of the side defines an opening of the dish. The ear prop section is operably connected to the opening to provide a mechanism for elevating, supporting or displacing the pet&#39;s ears.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.11/745,344, filed May 7, 2007, which is a continuation of U.S.application Ser. No. 11/052,151, filed Feb. 7, 2005, which claims thebenefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/547,877, filed Feb. 26,2004, the entire disclosures of which are incorporated herein byreference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates in general to the field of devices for feedingpets, more particularly, to a device for keeping pets' ears clean orsubstantially clean.

BACKGROUND

When animals or pets eat food or drink water, they mainly place theirfaces in the bowl or dish containing the food. For example, when dogseat food or drink water, they place their snouts in the bowl or dish inorder to obtain access to the food or water. Dogs that have floppy ears,i.e., ears that hang toward the ground instead of “cropped ears,” oftenget their ears wet or food stuck in the hair of their ears when theyplace their faces in the bowls or dishes containing food or water.

-   -   There is thus a need for a device that keeps pets' ears clean or        substantially clean.

SUMMARY

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, an ear propprevents a pet's ears from contacting or substantially contacting foodor water in a bowl or dish.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, a dish forholding food or water for a pet is constructed to keep the pet's earsfrom contacting or substantially contacting food or water in the dish.The dish comprises a bowl section and an ear prop section. The bowlsection has a floor piece with a boundary continuously connectable to aboundary of a side wherein another boundary of the side defines anopening of the dish. The ear prop section is operably connected to theopening to provide a mechanism for elevating, supporting or displacingthe pet's ears.

In accordance with yet another aspect of the present invention, an earprop for preventing a pet's ears from contacting or substantiallycontacting food or water in a bowl or dish comprises a shield. Theshield has members for elevating, supporting or displacing the pet'sears.

It is to be understood that the foregoing general description and thedetailed description are exemplary, but not restrictive of theinvention.

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

In the drawings, which are discussed below, one or more preferredembodiments are illustrated, with the same reference numerals referringto the same pieces of the invention throughout the drawings. It isunderstood that the invention is not limited to the embodiments depictedin the drawings herein, but rather it is defined by the claims appendedhereto and equivalent structures

FIG. 1 is one embodiment of the ear prop of the present inventionoperably connected to a bowl.

FIG. 2 is a front view of the ear prop of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 a is a second embodiment of the ear prop of the presentinvention.

FIG. 3 b is a third embodiment of the ear prop of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a fourth embodiment of the ear prop of the present inventionoperably connected to a bowl.

FIG. 5 is a front view of the ear prop of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 a is a fifth embodiment of the ear prop of the present invention.

FIG. 6 b is a sixth embodiment of the ear prop of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

While the specification concludes with claims particularly pointing outand distinctly claiming the subject matter that is regarded as theinvention, the invention will now be further described by reference tothe following detailed description of preferred embodiments taken inconjunction with the above-described accompanying drawings.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, an ear prop 100, 400 is operably connected toa bowl 102. The ear prop 100, 400 can be either incorporated into themold of the bowl 102 at the time of manufacture or an add-on accessorypurchased after the purchase of the bowl 102. The ear prop 100, 400 alsocan be adjustable so that it can be used on different sized bowls and/orfor different sized pets. As discussed herein, the term “pet” includesall types of animals, not just domesticated animals.

In FIG. 1, the ear prop 100 engages the rim or edge 104 of the bowl 102.The ear prop 100 has members 106, 108 connected to one another throughan attachment piece 110. In another embodiment, not shown, the members106, 108 are not connected to one another through an attachment piece.The members 106, 108 are positioned so that they will be in contact withthe pet's ears 112, 112 when the pet 114 places his head 114 in the bowl102. The members 106, 108 can be set at a predetermined height by themanufacturer or adjusted by the pet's owner; when adjustable, eachmember 106, 108 may be moved either dependent or independent of theother member. As a result of the members 106, 108, the pet's ears 112,112 are elevated, supported, or displaced so that they do not come intocontact with the food or water in the bowl 102.

In an adjustable embodiment of the ear prop 100, when the ear prop'smembers 106, 108 are raised and lowered, the attachment piece 110between the members 106, 108 does not also raise and lower. In analternative embodiment, the attachment piece 110 between the members106, 108 also raises and lowers in correlation or proportion to thechange in the members 106, 108. In another alternative embodiment, theattachment piece 110 is not present and the members 106, 108 can beadjusted either independently or dependently, i.e., if the members 106,108 are dependent, when one member is raised or lowered to a specificheight, the second member automatically raises or lowers to the sameheight as a result of a mechanism found inside of the bowl 102; if themembers 106, 108 are independent of each other, adjusting one memberdoes not automatically adjust the other member. When raising the members106, 108, the members 106, 108 move on a diagonal path toward the pet114; when lowering the members 106, 108, they move on a diagonal pathaway from the pet 114. In an alternative embodiment, raising andlowering the members 106, 108 results in adjustment of either thevertical or the horizontal distance between the members 106, 108 and theedge 104 of the bowl 102. Raising and lowering the members 106, 108allows the ear prop to be adjusted based on the size or diameter of thepet's head 116.

When an attachment piece 110 is located between the members 106, 108 ofthe ear prop 100, the attachment piece 110 can be adjustable so that theear prop 100 can be used on different shaped or sized bowls.Additionally, although shown as located below the highest portion of themembers 106, 108, the attachment piece 110 can be located at a heightidentical to or higher than the highest portion of the members 106, 108.

FIGS. 2 and 3 show embodiments of the ear prop of FIG. 1 not operablyconnected to a bowl. FIG. 2 shows the ear prop 100 having members 106,108 connected to one another through an attachment piece 110; themembers 106, 108 and attachment piece 110 are preset by themanufacturer. Adjustable embodiments are shown in FIG. 3. FIG. 3 showsear props 300, 350 having adjustable members 302, 304 connected to anadjustable attachment piece 306. In the ear prop 300 shown in FIG. 3 a,the members 302, 304 are adjusted dependently or independently relativeto one another, and the attachment piece 306 is adjusted independentlyfrom the members 302, 304. In FIG. 3 b, the ear prop 350 has the members302, 304 and attachment piece 306 dependently adjustable; in otherwords, manually adjusting member 302, member 304 or attachment piece 306automatically adjusts the non-manually adjusted items. The attachmentpiece 306 optionally may comprise at least one telescopic membercomprising an inner and outer portion 306 a, 306 b. The inner and outerportions 306 a, 306 b may be adjustably position with respect to eachother.

Another embodiment of the ear prop is shown in FIG. 4. In thisembodiment, the ear prop 400 resembles a shield. The ear prop 400 islocated toward and engages the back of the bowl 102. As shown, the earprop 400 optionally is angled toward the body of the pet 114 which willplace its head 116 in the bowl 102 to eat or drink. The ear prop 400contains members 402, 404. When the pet's mouth is in the bowl 102, thepet's ears 112, 112 are elevated, supported or displaced by the members402, 404 so that they do not come into contact with the food or water inthe bowl 102. The members 402, 404 can be either set at a predeterminedheight by the manufacturer or adjusted by the pet's owner.

In an adjustable embodiment, when the ear prop's members 402, 404 areraised and lowered, the segment 406 of the ear prop 400 between themembers 402, 404 does not also raise and lower. In an alternativeembodiment, the segment 406 between the members 402, 404 also raises andlowers in correlation or proportion to the change in the members 402,404. As shown, the segment 406 between the members 402, 404 is lowerthan the highest portion of the members 402, 404; alternatively, theheight of this segment 406 can be identical to or higher than thehighest portion of the members 402, 404. When raising the members 402,404, the members 402, 404 move on a diagonal path toward the pet 114;when lowering the members 402, 404, they move on a diagonal path awayfrom the pet 114. In an alternative embodiment, raising and lowering themembers 402, 404 results in adjustment of either the vertical or thehorizontal distance between the members 402, 404 and the edge 104 of thebowl 102.

FIGS. 5 and 6 show embodiments of the ear prop of FIG. 2 not operablyconnected to a bowl. FIG. 5 shows the ear prop 400 having members 402,404 and segment 406 preset by a manufacturer. Adjustable embodiments areshown in FIG. 6. FIG. 6 shows ear props 600, 650 having adjustablemembers 602, 604 connected to an adjustable segment 606. In the ear prop600 shown in FIG. 6 a, the members 602, 604 are adjusted dependently orindependently relative to one another and the segment 606 is adjustedindependently of the members 602, 604. As shown in FIG. 6 b, the earprop 650 has the members 602, 604 and the segment 606 dependentlyadjustable; in other words, manually adjusting member 602, member 604 orsegment 606 automatically adjusts the non-manually adjusted items. Thesegment 606 optionally may comprise at least one telescopic membercomprising an inner and outer portion 606 a, 606 b. The inner and outerportions 606 a, 606 b may be adjustably positioned with respect to eachother.

Although shown as rounded triangular shapes in FIGS. 1-6, the members ofthe ear prop are not limited to this shape. The shape of the members canbe oval, circular, square, rectangular, trapezoidal or any other shapecapable of elevating, supporting or displacing a pet's ears.Additionally, the members need not be hollow as shown in FIGS. 1-3 orsolid as shown in FIGS. 4-6; the members can be solid, substantiallysolid, partially solid, hollow, substantially hollow or partiallyhollow.

Mechanisms for adjusting the adjustable elements described herein arewell known in the art. Examples of such mechanisms are snap-lockmechanisms, press-fit mechanisms, bracket-type mechanisms,slide-and-lock mechanisms, twist-and-lock or other friction-fitmechanisms, tongue-and-groove mechanisms, clamp-type mechanisms or anyother suitable mechanisms for adjusting the adjustable elements. It alsois well known in the art to make adjustable elements operably connectedto one another, if so desired.

If the ear prop is an add-on accessory to a bowl or apparatus that holdsthe bowl, such as a tray, table or the like, the ear prop contains amechanism 700 to secure it to the bowl or apparatus. The mechanism maybe a snap-lock mechanism, a press-fit mechanism, a bracket-typemechanism, a slide-and-lock mechanism, a twist-and-lock or otherfriction-fit mechanism, a tongue-and-groove mechanism, a clamp-typemechanism or any other suitable mechanism for securing the ear prop tothe bowl or apparatus. Alternatively, the ear prop can be a standalonedevice. In such an embodiment, the members are operably connected to onebase or a plurality of bases and the bowl is located in close proximityor is operably connected to the ear prop.

Throughout the description herein, the ear prop has been described aselevating, supporting or displacing a pet's ears so that they do notcome into contact with food or water in a bowl. However, this assumesthat the ear prop's members are contacting the underside of the pet'sears as shown in FIGS. 1 and 4. The ear prop alternatively could bepositioned so that the ear prop's members contact the exterior portionsof the pet's ears, in which case the pet's ears would be elevated,supported or displaced so that they do not come or substantially comeinto contact with the food or water in the bowl.

The ear prop can be made of any suitable material that is substantiallyrigid so that when the pet's head rubs or presses against the ear prop,the ear prop is able to elevate, support or displace the pet's earswithout bending or breaking away from the bowl. Examples of suchmaterials are plastic, wood, rubber, metal, foam or any other suitablematerial or a combination of such materials. The material chosen may beone that is sufficiently flexible to permit the pet's owner or caregiverto adjust the ear prop to the size of the pet's head or to be in bettercontact with the pet's ears than the position set by the manufacturer.Optionally, a softer material can be located on or incorporated into themembers so that the surface in contact with the pet's ears is softerthan the substantially rigid material; examples of softer materialsinclude, but are not limited to, neoprene, microfiber, cotton, felt, orany other suitable material or combinations of these materials.

The ear prop is not limited for use on a bowl. It can be used on a dishor any item from which a pet can eat. Although the ear prop 100, 400 isassociated with a round bowl 102 in FIGS. 1 and 4, the item on which theear prop is used can be any shape; the item need not be circular oroval.

The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms withoutdeparting from the spirit or essential attributes thereof and,accordingly, reference should be made to the appended claims, ratherthan to the foregoing specification, as indicating the scope of theinvention.

1. An ear prop configured to prevent a pet's ears from contacting orsubstantially contacting a substance in a bowl or dish, the ear propcomprising: a first and second member disposed in a substantiallyupright plane, the members being spaced apart at a distancecorresponding to a distance between the pet's ears so as to elevate,support, or displace the pet's ears; an attachment piece extendingbetween and joining the members and being substantially perpendicular tothe substantially upright plane, the attachment piece and the membersform a substantially saddle-shaped configuration, wherein the attachmentpiece comprises at least one telescopic member comprising an inner andouter portion, the inner and outer portions being adjustably positionedwith respect to each other; and a mechanism for securing the ear prop toat least one item selected from the group consisting of the bowl ordish, an apparatus that holds the bowl or dish, and at least one baselocated in close proximity to the bowl or dish.
 2. The ear prop of claim1, wherein the first and second members are operably connected to thebowl or dish.
 3. The ear prop of claim 1, wherein the first and secondmembers are operably connected to each other.
 4. The ear prop of claim1, wherein the ear prop is adjustable.
 5. The ear prop of claim 1,wherein the ear prop is a shield.
 6. The ear prop of claim 1, whereinthe pet is a dog.
 7. The ear prop of claim 1, wherein the substancecomprises food or water.
 8. The ear prop of claim 1, wherein themechanism comprises at least one item selected from the group consistingof a snap-lock mechanism, a press-fit mechanism, a twist-and-lockmechanism, a friction-fit mechanism, a tongue-and-groove mechanism, anda clamp-type mechanism.
 9. The ear prop of claim 1, wherein theapparatus that holds the bowl or dish comprises a tray or a table. 10.The ear prop of claim 1, wherein the attachment piece comprises asegment.
 11. An ear prop configured to prevent a pet's ears fromcontacting or substantially contacting a substance in a bowl or dish,the ear prop comprising: a first and second member disposed in asubstantially upright plane, the members being spaced apart at adistance corresponding to a distance between the pet's ears so as toelevate, support, or displace the pet's ears; an attachment pieceextending between and joining the members and being substantiallyperpendicular to the substantially upright plane, the the members formpeaks along the attachment piece, wherein the attachment piece comprisesat least one telescopic member comprising an inner and outer portion,the inner and outer portions being adjustably positioned with respect toeach other; and a mechanism for securing the ear prop to at least oneitem selected from the group consisting of the bowl or dish, anapparatus that holds the bowl or dish, and at least one base located inclose proximity to the bowl or dish.
 12. The ear prop of claim 11,wherein the first and second members are operably connected to the bowlor dish.
 13. The ear prop of claim 11, wherein the first and secondmembers are operably connected to each other.
 14. The ear prop of claim11, wherein the ear prop is adjustable.
 15. The ear prop of claim 11,wherein the ear prop is a shield.
 16. The ear prop of claim 11, whereinthe pet is a dog.
 17. The ear prop of claim 11, wherein the substancecomprises food or water.
 18. The ear prop of claim 11, wherein themechanism comprises at least one item selected from the group consistingof a snap-lock mechanism, a press-fit mechanism, a twist-and-lockmechanism, a friction-fit mechanism, a tongue-and-groove mechanism, anda clamp-type mechanism.
 19. The ear prop of claim 11, wherein theapparatus that holds the bowl or dish comprises a tray or a table. 20.The ear prop of claim 11, wherein the attachment piece comprises asegment.
 21. An ear prop configured to prevent a pet's ears fromcontacting or substantially contacting a substance in a bowl or dish,the ear prop comprising: a shield comprising a first and second memberdisposed in a substantially upright plane, the members being spacedapart at a distance corresponding to a distance between the pet's earsso as to elevate, support, or displace the pet's ears and a segmentextending between and joining the first and second members and beingsubstantially perpendicular to the substantially upright plane, whereinthe first and second members form peaks along the segment, wherein thesegment comprises at least one telescopic member comprising an inner andouter portion, the inner and outer portions being adjustably positionedwith respect to each other; and a mechanism for securing the ear prop toat least one item selected from the group consisting of the bowl ordish, an apparatus that holds the bowl or dish, and at least one baselocated in close proximity to the bowl or dish.
 22. The ear prop ofclaim 21, wherein the members are operably connected to the bowl ordish.
 23. The ear prop of claim 21, wherein the members are operablyconnected to each other.
 24. The ear prop of claim 21, wherein the earprop is adjustable.
 25. The ear prop of claim 21, wherein the pet is adog.
 26. The ear prop of claim 21, wherein the substance comprises foodor water.
 27. The ear prop of claim 21, wherein the mechanism comprisesat least one item selected from the group consisting of a snap-lockmechanism, a press-fit mechanism, a twist-and-lock mechanism, afriction-fit mechanism, a tongue-and-groove mechanism, and a clamp-typemechanism.
 28. The ear prop of claim 21, wherein the apparatus thatholds the bowl or dish comprises a tray or a table.
 29. A dish forholding a substance for a pet constructed to prevent the pet's ears fromcontacting or substantially contacting the substance, the dishcomprising: a bowl section having a floor piece with a boundarycontinuously connectable to a boundary of a side wherein anotherboundary of the side defines an opening of the dish; an ear prop sectionoperably connected to the opening, wherein the ear prop sectioncomprises: a first and second member disposed in a substantially uprightplane, the members being spaced apart at a distance corresponding to adistance between the pet's ears so as to elevate, support, or displacethe pet's ears; an attachment piece extending between and joining thefirst and second members and being substantially perpendicular to thesubstantially upright plane; and the first and second members form peaksalong the attachment piece, wherein the attachment piece comprises atleast one telescopic member comprising an inner and outer portion, theinner and outer portions being adjustably positioned with respect toeach other.
 30. The dish of claim 29, wherein the first and secondmembers are operably connected to each other.
 31. The dish of claim 29,wherein the ear prop section is separable from the bowl section.
 32. Thedish of claim 29, wherein the ear prop section is a shield.
 33. The dishof claim 31, wherein the ear prop section is a shield.
 34. The dish ofclaim 29, wherein the pet is a dog.
 35. The dish of claim 29, whereinthe substance comprises food or water.
 36. The dish of claim 29, whereinthe attachment piece comprises a segment.